What to Pack for Trekking? Equipment Guide

Trekking is generally very rewarding and a once-in-a-lifetime experience. While trekking is not dangerous, health and safety should always be a top priority. Whether you're going for the Everest Base Camp trek in Nepal, the Inca Trail in Peru, or wanting to trek Kilimanjaro in Africa, all tour companies on Bookmundi will always have been carefully selected, to ensure that you get an as good and safe trekking experience as possible. We still recommend, however, that you always prepare yourself as much as possible and go through the below information on health, safety and altitude sickness while trekking. They may come in handy.

For every trekking season below we list the average temperatures in Kathmandu, which lies at an altitude of 1300 m. If wanting to calculate the potential temperatures during your trek then please note that for every 100 meters of ascend the temperature will fall 0.5 degrees. Thus, when doing for example the trek to Everest Base Camp and reaching Kala Patthar which lies at an altitude of 5,400 m, then the temperature will have fallen additionally 27 degrees, compared with sea level. Please also note that the below are average temperatures only and therefore lower temperatures are possible, and, additionally the chill factor may make it considerably colder. Please therefore always choose equipment which can cope with sufficiently low temperatures during the season in which you're trekking. (Equipment lists provided further below also).

Altitude illness occurs due to changed pressure and oxygen levels. As the altitude increases the pressure levels drop and as a result oxygen levels drop accordingly. Altitude illness may kick in when reaching 3,000 meters and above as a result of the body being unable to adapt to the new pressure and oxygen levels.

Every year around 210,000 tourists spend their holidays trekking in Nepal. In this Guide for Trekking in Nepal, we will guide you through 7 preparatory steps which answers the most common questions that we receive from people who are coming to Nepal for trekking. The overall aim? To help you get a fantastic trekking tour in Nepal! If you are going trekking in Nepal, you are very likely to go through most, if not all, of the following steps during your planning phase (you can click at each of the links to quickly jump to a favourite section of yours):

Home to the magnificent Himalayas, Nepal offers a multitude of breathtaking trekking opportunities for adventurers of all levels. From the legendary trek to Everest Base Camp to the enchanting Annapurna Circuit, as well as lesser-known (but no less spectacular) trekking trails, such as the Nar Phu Valley trek, Nepal has something to captivate every trekking enthusiast. We have curated this list of the best treks in Nepal.

All things considered, April might be the best month to trek to Everest Base Camp. The month falls in the middle of spring and the weather is as nice as it can get in the Himalayas. This is peak trekking season and the main routes to Everest Base Camp in April can get crowded. But this is only understandable since the views along the route are particularly beautiful and the sights of mountain peaks are clearer than ever during this time.

Most people do the Everest Base Camp hike in October, but November can be an even better time to embark on this trek. This is despite the fact that by November-end, it gets fairly cold. A trek to Everest Base Camp in November has some distinct advantages over almost every other month: it is one of the driest months of the year; the air is clear, offering splendid views all around; and you are not going to encounter as much snowfall as the peak winter months.

The cost to hiking the Everest Base Camp depends on whether you do it independently or with a guide. Besides, the route you take, your food and accommodation, and many other factors also come into play. A classic trek that most trekkers end up doing (starting from Lukla) can cost around *USD 1,500. Luxury treks to Everest Base Camp may cost around USD 3,300–4,500 per head.

If you are planning to take on the Everest Base Camp trek in May, the weather will play a key role. While the first half of May falls under spring and the crowds are high, the month’s end will start bringing monsoon rains. But the intensity of rain is not as high as in June to affect your trekking experience. May is still a good month to do this popular Himalayan trek

The thought of the Everest Base Camp hike seems like a lengthy, arduous affair—the one that goes on for weeks on end. While there are plenty of trekking itineraries that last over 14 days, you can also do short Everest Base Camp treks. Here are our guides on accomplishing the coveted trek that will take you all the way to the foothill of the world’s highest peak within 8 to 10 days.

Everest Base Camp sits at an impressive height of 5,364 meters but you don’t need to be a professional mountaineer or an experienced climber for this trek. That said, trekking to this height is no joke, and it’s critical to get acclimatized to the conditions. You’ll also need to know the best time to trek Everest Base Camp so you can avoid trekking in Nepal in the rainy season and ensure you’ll have mostly clear views of the stunning Himalayan range, glaciers, rhododendron forests, mountain villages, and the blue sky.

March is a transition period from winter to spring on the iconic Everest Base Camp hike. The trekking season picks up pace in the latter half of the month and continues till mid-May. The heavy rains are still a few months away, and a lovely spring bloom makes it a beautiful trek. With the snow starting to melt, larger numbers of people trek the Everest Base Camp in March.